RAMIREZ: How does Mother Mary help you and your family with your relationship with Jesus Christ?

May 12, 2020

By Samantha Ramirez, Archdiocesan Youth Council

Growing up in a traditional Mexican family has its perks. One of them being that there always seemed to be an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in every room.

From a young age, Mother Mary changed my life even if I hadn’t realized it yet. The truth is that for the first few years of my life, I didn’t really understand the role that Mary played in my life. I was intimidated, and I didn’t know how to talk to her.

My grandmother would invite us to pray the Rosary with her every day, which brought us closer together as a family and closer to Mother Mary.

My devotion to her led me to my devotion to Jesus. I wanted so much to love Him and to have a relationship with Him. So, I did what I already knew. I prayed the Rosary and asked for her through her motherly intercession to pray for my family and me.

Mary wants the best for us; she wants us to get to know her Son. She’s brought me closer to Jesus Christ by giving me courage. Mary responded to God’s call willingly and obediently.

She gives me the courage to say “yes” and to trust in God even if I don’t fully understand what it is I’m saying “yes” to. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel is something that I keep in the back of my head. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) Remembering Mary’s faith encourages me to say “yes” to whatever it is God asks of me. Also remembering that God will never give you something you can’t do.

Loving Mother Mary and having a relationship with her has helped me have a relationship with Jesus Christ as well.

As one of my favorite saints, St. Maximilian Kolbe said: “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

Samantha Ramirez is a member of the Archdiocesan Youth Council and attends St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church.